The Paris Opera went crazy with José Martínez last Friday. At the end of his ballet Les enfants du paradis, 20 minutes of standing ovation summarized a whole life dancing with the Paris Opera Ballet. I cannot imagine how many things must come to one’s mind at that moment, or probably none. I do not know. We’ll ask him.

He comes to Madrid with a huge bag full of knowledge from the Paris Opera, but also a beautiful chair and an amazing and indestructible fortitude. In his farewell speech, José Martínez expressed in Spanish his gratitude to all his family and friends, but in French he included those who hindered him because, he said, made him stronger. Ahem.

The Spanish authorities went to Paris, showed up in the picture, and I’m sure they got amazed by what José Martínez represents in the international dance world. That happens at the Paris Opera when an Étoile retires -specially some of them- because you can feel the prestige of a lifetime and the public’s respect both in the street as well as in the offices. And not just when you have to give him a position, I might add. José Martínez, in addition to his wonderful dancing, is a serious guy, respected and whom the public has a special love. He is also funny, very funny.

The hours before his farewell I thought of his mother and his Maestro, Jose Ferrán. Perhaps because I am a mother and maestra myself (please note the capital letter I deleted) and I can imagine what they must have felt seeing him on stage. Good lord.

I hope we’ll all see that chair they gave him at his office in Madrid. I sincerely hope he’ll have the chance to show his great capacities, and I wish that the day of his farewell speech in Madrid, we will not hear about the hindering “made in Spain”. Please, don’ forget that José Martínez comes from the Paris Opera.